ACT: Affirm Compassion Together

SFU continues to support each other as an academic community to listen with empathy and to make space for difficult conversations as we navigate increasingly complex global events together. It is more important than ever that space is held for these conversations to take place, responsibly and respectfully, and that we defend the rights of students, faculty and staff to express their views with academic freedom and within the bonds of law.

SFU is being called on to lead—to model a way forward that is rooted in compassion and open dialogue.  

SFU’s EDI Community of Practice Guidelines are a resource to support respectful conversations, such as the suggestion to ‘speak from the I’ - Speak from your own position and experiences. 

The SFU Communicators Language Guide also has helpful tips around inclusive language for conversations. 

The Government of Canada also has a guide that can help support courageous conversations involving four steps:   

• Understand the terminology first and have a shared understanding so that the quality of dialogue can be enhanced; 
• Prepare for the conversation by considering our own layers, checking our assumptions and asking questions about inclusion;
• Start the conversation by using the BRAVE framework: Build, Respect, Acknowledge, Validate and Emphasize; and
• Successfully end the conversation for all. For example, express gratitude to all participants.  

We can all help in cultivating a community of care. For a guide on assisting colleagues in distress, visit here or for faculty and staff assisting students in distress, please find out more here.  

We often forget that in giving compassion to others, we also need to show ourselves compassion. Some ways we can do so:

• Join a support group, either through the Multifaith Centre or through Health and Counselling Services.
• Mindfulness practice is also an impactful way to experience self-compassion. 

Please reach out and visit the community supports, identity-based supports and/or critical incident supports pages.

Please review SFU’s GP 18 and GP 47 Policies; read the document on Educational Guides on Human Rights, Discrimination and Accommodations; and check out SFU’s six steps towards a culture of Inclusive Excellence .

See the  Respectful Workplace & Learning Environment Online Learning Module and find out more about Respectful Environment and Interrupting Implicit Bias work (Contact the Bullying & Harassment Hub or Equity Office). You can also look into the Respectful Environment and Consent workshop  (Contact the Bullying & Harassment Hub or SVSPO)

Check out SFU Public Square’s Creating Safer Spaces: Facilitation, Intervention and Community Guidelines  and the Centre for Dialogue’s Beyond Inclusion: Equity in Public Engagement 

Check out SFU’s strategic Equity Compass plan and SFU’s Anti-Racism webpage  to learn more.

Learn how you can further EDI work in the classroom through the Centre for Educational Excellence's Inclusive Teaching guide.